VIDEO: Coakley comes to Quincy in last-minute bid for votes

Democrat Martha Coakley visited a labor union in Quincy Sunday before getting some high-powered help from President Obama in Boston in her bid for the U.S. Senate.

By Dennis Tatz

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Dennis Tatz

Posted Jan. 17, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 17, 2010 at 5:19 PM

By Dennis Tatz

Posted Jan. 17, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 17, 2010 at 5:19 PM

QUINCY

» Social News

It was Democrat Martha Coakley’s turn to court the voters of Quincy.

The state Attorney General and U. S. Senate candidate met Sunday afternoon with about 125 supporters, who crowded into a meeting room of the National Association of Government Employees union.

Coakley told the crowd that her goal is to continue the work of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in the field of health care and other issues.

She said her opponent, Republican state. Sen Scott Brown, would derail what President Obama wants to accomplish.

Coakley said Brown represents the “greed of Wall Street” and a continuance of the failed policies of the Bush administration.

“The stakes are too high,” she said.

Coakley has been getting some high-powered help in her efforts to stave off what would be a huge upset if she loses Tuesday. President Obama was set to join her campaign Sunday in Boston, along with U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

The election is seen by many as a test of Obama’s popularity and a referendum on his domestic policy, most importantly on his health care legislation. Brown has promised to vote no on the bill.

Joining Coakley in Quincy were the late senator’s widow, Vicki Kennedy, Congressman William Delahunt, D-Quincy and state Rep. Bruce Ayer and several city councilors.

Delahunt said the election would do a lot to set the course of history for the country.

“Do we want to go backward or are we going to go forward?” the Democrat from Quincy asked.

Brown brought his campaign to Quincy and later to Plymouth on Saturday. Coakley’s campaign was in Plymouth Saturday, too.

A crowd of about 400 cheering, “Go Scott Go,” welcomed Brown to Quincy Saturday morning for a rally on the lawn of the Thomas Crane Public Library. At the state senator’s side were former Gov. William Weld and former Quincy Mayor Frank McCauley.

Coakley made a quick stop at Stonebridge Café and Back Bay Bagel Co. in Brockton Sunday morning.

"It was a little exciting for a bit there. I wasn't expecting it," Caitlin Maurath said of Coakley's surprise visit. "You wouldn't think somebody like that would come to where you work. It was pretty cool. We just gave her a dozen bagels with cream cheese on it."

Independent Joseph Kennedy of Dedham, who is no relation to the late senator’s family, is also a candidate.